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Meeting with President of the United Arab Emirates

The Prime Minister met the President of the United Arab Emirates in Downing Street on Wednesday 1 May 2013.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

David Cameron has met with the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Following the meeting a Downing Street spokesperson made the following statement:

The Prime Minister welcomed the President, His Highness Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his delegation to Number 10 today, as part of the continuing State Visit from the United Arab Emirates.

The Prime Minister said that the State Visit was a mark of the lasting and strategic importance to Britain of our relationship with the UAE. The two leaders agreed that the relationship had developed significantly in the last year, especially building a deeper and substantive defence partnership and significant new commercial links. They discussed the action that the international community should take on the most pressing issues in the Gulf and wider region, including to address the challenge of Iran’s nuclear programme, to end the appalling and dangerous conflict in Syria, and to bring new momentum to the peace process between Israel and Palestine. They agreed on the need for further support to stabilisation and development in Somalia at the London conference next week. They also discussed UK concerns about the treatment of the three British Nationals convicted of drug possession in Dubai.

The two Leaders agreed to continue close engagement between the two governments on important issues in the relationship.

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Published 1 May 2013